Florida Museum Showcases Steve McQueen’s Porsche 917 From Le Mans

As if unveiling a new 35,000-square-foot facility to house its vast array of historic road and race cars isn’t enough, the Brumos Collection, in Jacksonville, Florida, has also taken the wraps off its star attraction: the 1970 Porsche 917K driven by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans.

The Brumos Collection is a museum featuring more than three dozen vintage cars, but pride of place is this McQueen-driven Porsche, which started life as a Le Mans tester before being featured in the film. It then sat in a barn for more than two decades until it was rediscovered in 2001 and restored to race glory. It sold in 2017 for more than $14 million.

But if you come for the 917K, you’ll surely appreciate the rest of the collection. Among the highlights is the 1968 Porsche 908 that Jo Siffert and Vic Elford drove to victory at the Nürburgring 1000 km. There’s also a 1914 Peugeot L45, the first car with dual overhead camshafts and one of only two that remain in the world. There’s also a 1923 Miller 122 Grand Prix, the first American race car bought to race in Europe, along with a 1925 Bugatti Type 35, a 1,100hp 1972 Porsche 917-10 Can-Am racer, and even a 1958 Watson Sprint car.

The new facility is designed in homage to a Ford Model T factory that used to reside in Jacksonville. Just be aware, tickets can only purchased online; no walk-ups allowed.

*Images courtesy of the Brumos Collection